• Appointment of Judicial Officers under the Bar quota: Judgement explainer
    Nov 6 2025

    On 9 October, a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court unanimously held that judicial officers with seven years of prior Bar experience are eligible for recruitment as District Judges. The Court directed all states and High Courts to amend service rules within three months. The 139-page Judgement held that Article 233 is a complete code and rejected the idea of a fixed quota for practising advocates. It clarified that eligibility will rest on a combined seven years of Bar and/or judicial experience, with a minimum age of 35 years.

    Show More Show Less
    6 mins
  • Undoing an error: The Bhushan Steel judgement
    Oct 24 2025

    The Court's decision to restore the Bhushan Steel takeover makes clear that the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code is a framework for revival, not destruction. We look at how the Review Bench acknowledged delays caused by external factors (like the ED and former promoters) and reaffirmed two core principles: the supremacy of the Committee of Creditors’ commercial wisdom and the narrowed locus of former promoters to stall the process

    Show More Show Less
    5 mins
  • Shoe-hurling incident: Will the Court exercise its contempt jurisdiction?
    Oct 23 2025

    An unprecedented attack targeted CJI BR Gavai, when an advocate hurled a shoe at the Bench. While the Chief calls it a "forgotten chapter," we examine why the Contempt of Courts Act and legal precedent demand an institutional response, and what the lack of censure means for the Court's authority.

    Show More Show Less
    4 mins
  • Covering the Supreme Court
    Sep 24 2025

    What is the nature of the Supreme Court's work and how do we make sense of the chaotic courtroom environment? What is the gap between judicial pronouncements and their real-world impact, and what is the role of a reporter in making complex legal intricacies accessible to the public?


    More answers to these questions in our episode!

    #SCO #SCObserver #SupremeCourtObserver #Judiciary #IndianJudiciary #SupremeCourtofIndia #LawNews #LegalUpdates #UPSC #

    Show More Show Less
    5 mins
  • VP elections and the Supreme Court
    Sep 10 2025

    A Supreme Court decision from 2011 has become the central focus of the Vice Presidential elections in 2025. The reason: the Opposition's VP candidate was on the Supreme Court Bench that struck down the 'Salwa Judum' initiatives. Home Minister Amit Shah attacked the decision as having delayed the elimination of the "maoist" movement. We unpack the case and its ramifications!

    Show More Show Less
    5 mins
  • Justice S. Muralidhar on 75 Years of the Supreme Court
    Sep 2 2025

    Join us for an insightful conversation with Justice S. Muralidhar, Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India and former Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court, as he discusses his latest work as editor and curator of “(In)Complete Justice? The Supreme Court at 75.”In this interview hosted by Gauri Kashyap for the Supreme Court Observer (SCO), Justice Muralidhar reflects on 75 years of the Supreme Court, drawing on essays contributed by judges, lawyers, scholars, and researchers.

    The discussion covers:

    Why it is important to study and document the Court’s functioning.

    The decline of Constitution Benches and its implications.

    The challenge of multiplicity of opinions and readability of judgments.

    The Court’s growing pendency crisis and inconsistencies in case admissions.

    How digitisation and data transparency, through tools like the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG), are reshaping access to information.

    His experience curating voices and perspectives on the Court’s journey so far.

    This conversation offers a unique window into the Supreme Court’s evolving role in Indian democracy, its strengths, and the challenges it faces ahead.

    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
  • Chief Justice B.R. Gavai: Mid-term Review
    Aug 28 2025

    As CJI B.R. Gavai completes half of his six-month tenure as Chief Justice of India, we look at the administrative actions and judicial decisions that have defined his term so far. With a few months left in his tenure as the 52nd CJI, what legacy will he leave behind?

    Show More Show Less
    4 mins
  • Anti-defection law and the Telangana Speaker
    Aug 23 2025

    On July 31, a Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai gave the Telangana Speaker three months to decide on the disqualification petitions of 10 MLAs. By stipulating a timeline for the Speaker to rule on defection petitions, the Court went beyond the ‘Shiv Sena verdict’. Could it have gone further?

    Show More Show Less
    5 mins